Saskatchewan Municipal Board rules in favour of City of Swift Current annexation application

The Saskatchewan Municipal Board (SMB) has ruled in favour of the City of Swift Current’s annexation application.

“We agree with the SMB that this dispute should have been resolved long before it came to the committee,” said Jerrod Schafer, Mayor of Swift Current.

“This ruling validates our position on planning for future growth and our offers in compensation were in good faith and fair practice.”

The SMB’s ruling stated that the land in the application should be annexed into the City of Swift Current at 15-times compensation to the RM of Swift Current #137 over seven years. This amount will equal approximately $453,715 per year and total approximately $3.17 million. The City had offered 15-times tax loss compensation while the RM sought 27-times.

“I’m happy for residents who don’t have to hear about this fight anymore and I’m glad that we have an opportunity to move forward in planning for growth,” said Schafer.

“Now we can concentrate on co-operation and collaboration to strengthen the region.”

The SMB stated in its ruling that: "Harmony amongst municipalities is something that attracts and encourages developers and investors to an area while local disagreement and bickering is not conducive to encouraging growth that both municipalities obviously want and that will benefit the people of the entire region.”